Respiratory Muscle Therapy for SCI

Respiratory Muscle Therapy for SCI

We’re all staying safe at home, but now what? Watch one of the videos below to see a simple exercise that can help prepare your lungs to fight COVID-19. Because the virus makes it difficult to breathe, people with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at a greater risk of requiring emergency care if they contract the virus because many have underlying weakness in their breathing muscles. This video shows how you can train and strengthen the muscles that allow you to breathe. The stronger you make those muscles, the better you can move air in and out of your lungs, especially when it comes to coughing. This type of training has also been shown to decrease rates of pneumonia, a common side effect of COVID-19 and one of the leading causes of death for people with SCI. Training these muscles is important for people with SCI, but ANYONE can benefit because COVID-19 does not discriminate. Keep your breathing muscles strong and yourself healthy! #See10Breathe10Challenge

Watch the short version of the video here:

And there’s a long version for those who want more detailed information: